Boot Camp to Support Windows on Mac. Um, Soon. Unless...

**Paul Daniel Ash** · 10-23-2009, 12:16 PM

On the day of Windows 7's release, Apple posted a terse Knowledge Base article promising Boot Camp support for the new operating system. However, the capability will only be available in a future update to the utility, which is slated for release sometime before the end of the year.

Apple will support Microsoft Windows 7 (Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate) with Boot Camp in Mac OS X Snow Leopard before the end of the year. This support will require a software update to Boot Camp.

Additionally, the article noted without explanation that nine Mac models manufactured in 2006 will not have Windows 7 support:

iMac (17-inch, Early 2006)
iMac (17-inch, Late 2006)
iMac (20-inch, Early 2006)
iMac (20-inch, Late 2006)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2006)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
Mac Pro (Mid 2006, Intel Xeon Dual-core 2.66GHz or 3GHz)

Observers have hypothesized that the omissions are related to drivers - for peripherals like the iSight camera, trackpad, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard etc. - that won't run on those systems under Windows. Windows 7 can be installed on these Macs and may work fine, though the affected devices may show some glitches. However, it's also possible that Windows may auto-detect the devices and load compatible drivers.

At the same time, though, it's unclear what these nine models have in common that is not also shared by other Macs. From AppleInsider:

The Early 2006 iMacs and MacBook Pro models have 32-bit Core Duo CPUs, but the other models specified all use 64-bit Core 2 Duos or Xeon processors, and no other 32-bit Macs (MacBooks, mini) are on the list...
The only other common thread between these machines is that they all originally shipped with either no or disabled support for 802.11n wireless networking. However, late 2006 MacBooks also shipped with disabled support for 802.11n, and no Mac minis supported 802.11n until 2009, so this does not appear to be a factor either.

image via InfoWorld

**rwin84** · 10-23-2009, 12:22 PM

sweet now i need a mac

**whizkid** · 10-23-2009, 12:22 PM

I already have new macbook pro running with windows 7 32 bit and snow leopard and its works awsum and flawlessly.//.

**santaf** · 10-23-2009, 12:23 PM

i got windows 7 for free from my major i just don't know if parallel's will run windows 7 does anyone know? i've been trying to google it but i'm not sure if it just supports the windows 7 beta or also acutal windows 7 i have parallel's 4.0 thanks i'm really wanting to change my vista to 7 runs smoother and i love the interface so much more. there was a demo at my school.

**Mp3** · 10-23-2009, 12:42 PM

I have had windows 7 installed on bootcamp for a while now. It seems to run perfect.

**samoth1989** · 10-23-2009, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by santaf

i got windows 7 for free from my major i just don't know if parallel's will run windows 7 does anyone know? i've been trying to google it but i'm not sure if it just supports the windows 7 beta or also acutal windows 7 i have parallel's 4.0 thanks i'm really wanting to change my vista to 7 runs smoother and i love the interface so much more. there was a demo at my school.

yes it does, i have installed win7 via bootcamp and access the partition via parallels 4

**Tunerfreak** · 10-23-2009, 01:23 PM

haha this is why i love apple, hey lots make fun of our competitor and say how crappy their OS is compared to our but then lets support that OS too. does anyone else see the irony here?

**feidhlim1986** · 10-23-2009, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by JailbreakThis

But what I wanna know is WHY ON EARTH would MAC USERS need Windows? I thought that Crapples could do EVERYTHING

Idiot.

I've had Windows 7 (64-bit) running on my MacBook Pro for a while now, runs fine with VMware Fusion too. So Boot Camp Support is already there.....

**feidhlim1986** · 10-23-2009, 01:35 PM

[quote=JailbreakThis;5007397]

You've proved my point.
Seeing as all your posts are just childish Apple bashing with zero evidence to back anything up. Its sad that you need to join a primarily apple user forum just bad-mouth them to make yourself feel good. How low is your self esteem?

**iLaw-One** · 10-23-2009, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by santaf

i got windows 7 for free from my major i just don't know if parallel's will run windows 7 does anyone know? i've been trying to google it but i'm not sure if it just supports the windows 7 beta or also acutal windows 7 i have parallel's 4.0 thanks i'm really wanting to change my vista to 7 runs smoother and i love the interface so much more. there was a demo at my school.

I've had windows 7 ultimate running on my MBP with VM ware. Runs smoothly without any issues at all...

**DarkDragonAn** · 10-23-2009, 01:43 PM

IF ANYONE WANT WINDOWS 7 PROFESSINAL FOR $29.99 JUST GO TO edit, link removedMicrosoft Office Discount for US Students -The Ultimate Steal- Office 2007 Software for $59.95[/url]
BUT YOU NEED TO BE A COLLEGE STUDENT OR KNOW SOME WHO IS.

**brandonmarback** · 10-23-2009, 02:08 PM

This thread is the perfect opportunity for a fanboy flame war.

Has anyone noticed how defensive the Apple people are lately. Remember that "Big Brother" that Apple warned us about, well that "Big Brother" is Apple. Do you remember when Steve Jobs said that at Apple, they believed in freedom of choice. Boy, things sure have come a long way since then, and not for the better.

**benjamin3111** · 10-23-2009, 02:16 PM

im using windows 7 on my macbook pro right now i just typed up this with windows 7 on my mac right now

**Tizocman** · 10-23-2009, 02:26 PM

I am using windows 7 pro on a iMac running OS X
and the drivers issue really is not accurate as i have used both wired and wireless apple keyboards with 7. I have found that in any file or web browsers it randomly decides to go back, not sure if its a boot camp thing just mentioning it.

**neonsector** · 10-23-2009, 02:38 PM

I am running 7 on my mac pro as well with no issues at all (so far)

**KoNeko** · 10-23-2009, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by feidhlim1986

You've proved my point.
Seeing as all your posts are just childish Apple bashing with zero evidence to back anything up. Its sad that you need to join a primarily apple user forum just bad-mouth them to make yourself feel good. How low is your self esteem?

Don't bother feeding the troll.

**bweb** · 10-23-2009, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Mp3

I have had windows 7 installed on bootcamp for a while now. It seems to run perfect.

Same here!

**petterloco1** · 10-23-2009, 04:33 PM

hey guy windows mac is just a computer don't fight against companys that you don't own or get something put off it.

**FlyingJoey** · 10-23-2009, 04:34 PM

this doesn't make any sense, we got Windows 7 Ultimate at work about 2 months ago, and I've been running it natively on my macbook air for about 2 months, using the existing bootcamp drivers, and no issues. Everything appears to work like it should.

Go figure.

**zauriel** · 10-23-2009, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by JailbreakThis

Proved your point what? You have no fuc.king point because you don't know how to read you illiterate fu.ck. Don't try to back pedal your way outa this sh.it now by trying to PRETEND this has something to do with post count or self esteem, I just call it like I see it! I just think it's funny when you little bit.ch nigga Crapple users try to act like Crapples are all big and bad but yet you still have the need to use Windows on your piece of sh.it Crapples.

Makes perfect sense right?

Please specify what makes Apple computers a "piece of sh.it". You've made absolutely no logical arguments.

For the record, people install Windows on their Macs:

a) Because sometimes their jobs or personal preferences require the use of Windows or Windows-only programs.

b) Because they are tech-happy geeks that like to have the best of both worlds and always want the latest and greatest.

c) Because they can. Which is more than you can say.

Of course, I'm willing to bet the vast majority of Mac owners don't have Windows installed alongside OS X. I'm one of them. I did originally, when I bought my first Mac 3 years ago, but after selling that iMac for a Macbook Pro, I determined I had absolutely no use for Windows. And I still don't.

Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.

Thread: Boot Camp to Support Windows on Mac. Um, Soon. Unless...

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General Apple/Mac

On the day of Windows 7's release, Apple posted a terse Knowledge Base article promising Boot Camp support for the new operating system. However, the capability will only be available

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